1 And it happened, when all the kings {melakhim: regional rulers} who were across the Jordan, in the hill country {har: elevated terrain}, in the lowland, and along the full coast of the great sea opposite Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard of it.
2 And they gathered themselves together to wage war against Joshua and Israel {Yisrael: covenant people}, with one accord {peh echad: united purpose}.
3 And the inhabitants {yoshvei: local dwellers} of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done {asah: military action} to Jericho and Ai,
4 And they also acted with cunning {'ormah: deceptive strategy}, and they went and prepared provisions, then they went as envoys, disguising themselves {yitsayyaru: dressed as travelers}. They took worn-out sacks for their donkeys and worn-out wineskins, both torn and patched up.
5 And worn sandals and patched {mutulaot: mended pieces} ones were on their feet, and worn garments were on their bodies, and all the bread of their provision was dry and crumbly {nikkudim: crumbly deterioration}.
6 And they went to Yehoshua {yehoshua: Yahweh Saves} at the camp at Gilgal, and they said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land {eretz: remote territory}; now make a covenant with us.”
7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are dwelling among us {beqirbi: within my midst}; how then can we make a covenant {berit: binding agreement} with you?”
8 And they said to Joshua, “We are your servants {avadecha: those who serve}.” But Joshua asked them, “Who are you, and from where have you come {umeayin: source location}?”
9 And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a very distant {rechokah: extreme remoteness} land for the name of the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikha, Mighty Deliverer}, for we have heard His fame and all that He did in Egypt.”
10 And also everything He {YHWH, Victorious Judge} did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond {beever: far side} the Jordan—to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and to Og, king of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.
11 And our elders and all the inhabitants of our land said to us, “Take provisions {tzeidah: journey supplies} in your hands for the way, and go to meet them, and you shall say to them, ‘We are your servants, and now make a covenant {brit: binding agreement} with us.’”
12 This is our bread {lechem: food provision}; it was warm when we took it as provisions from our houses on the day we set out to go to you. But now, behold, it is dry and it has become crumbly {niqqudim: marked with spots}.
13 And these wineskins, which we had filled with new wine, have burst {hitbakkau: split under pressure}; and these, our garments and our sandals, have become worn out from the great journey {derekh: extended travel}.
14 Then the men took some of their provisions {mitsedam: food stores}, but they did not inquire of the mouth of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Director}.
15 And Joshua made peace for them, and he cut a covenant {berit: binding treaty} with them to let them live, and the leaders {nesi'ei: ruling chiefs} of the assembly swore to them.
16 And it came to pass from the end of three days, after they had made a covenant {berit: binding treaty} with them, that they heard {sham’u: perceived by ear} that they were their neighbors and were living in their midst.
17 And the sons of Israel {bnei-yisrael: national covenant community} set out and arrived at their cities on the third day {hashelishi: appointed stage}, and their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18 And the sons of Israel did not strike them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Witness}. All the assembly then grumbled against the leaders {nesi’ei: appointed chiefs}.
19 And all the princes said to all the assembly, “We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisra’ēl: National Covenant Guardian}, and now we are unable to touch {naga: physically harm} them.”
20 This is what we will do to them: we will let them live {chayah: keep alive}, so that no wrath {qetsef: severe anger} will be upon us concerning the oath that we swore to them.
21 And the leaders {nesi’im: tribal chiefs} said to them, “Let them live, and they shall be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation {edah: assembly of Israel}, just as the leaders had spoken to them.”
22 And Joshua {yehoshua: Appointed Leader} called to them and spoke to them, saying, “Why did you deceive {rimmitem: act with cunning} us by saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are dwelling in our midst?”
23 And now, you are cursed {arurim: under divine judgment}, and there will never cease from among you a servant; you will be woodcutters and water drawers for the house of my God {Elohai, Sovereign Lord}.
24 And they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told and was certainly reported to your servants {avadim: those who serve} that the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikha, Covenant Keeper} commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all its inhabitants from before you, we were greatly afraid for our lives because of you, and we have done this thing.”
25 And now, behold, we are in your hand; do to us what is good {tov: moral goodness} and upright {yashar: moral uprightness} in your eyes.
26 So he did this for them thus {kên: covenant fulfillment}, and he delivered them from the hand {yad: military strength} of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.
27 So Joshua set them on that day as woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly {edah: gathered Israel} and for the altar of the LORD {YHWH, Worship-Receiving King}—until this day—at the place which He would choose.